For travellers, Hawke’s Bay Wine Country presents an eclectic mix of visual and sensual experiences. The region is New Zealand’s leading producer of red wines, has the greatest concentration of Art Deco architecture and hosts the country’s most elaborate celebrations of Matariki - the Maori New Year. As if that weren’t enough, Hawke’s Bay is also known for its artisan gourmet foods and glorious beaches that stretch from Mahia Peninsula in the north to Porangahau in the south.
The landscapes of Hawke’s Bay begin with the high, forested Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges. From the mountains, the land steps down towards the coast, flattening out to become the Heretaunga Plains. A number of wide rivers run swiftly to meet the blue Pacific Ocean. The twin cities of Napier and Hastings are the main population centres.
Blessed with a sunny, Mediterranean-style climate, Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions.
On February 3rd 1931, Napier and Hastings were devastated following New Zealand's worst natural disaster. An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale killed 256 people. Napier began re-building and now the city is world famous for its Art Deco buildings and celebrates its heritage each February with the Art Deco Weekend.
There are many famous landmarks in the region with cultural and scenic significance including Te Urewera National Park, Mahia Peninsula, Cape Kidnappers with its major gannet colony, the ranges to the west, and Te Mata Peak.
(Wiki)
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Last edited by:
Angela
18 July 2008
First added by:
Angela
18 July 2008
Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s Wine Country. We get over 2200 hours of nice warm sun light. Hawke’s Bay is a great place to visit all year round. We have the gorgeous Art Deco Tour and weekend in February, the National Aquarium of New Zealand, The Gannet Colony and so much more!
Art Deco was created after the 1931 earthquake and fire after most of the buildings were burned or collapsed under the pressure of the earthquake. Art Deco Weekend is the third weekend of February, see the HB Jazz Club Big Band in concert at the Sound Shell, dance in the street, and dress up in 1931’s garments and enjoy the simpler time. If you don’t make it up for art deco weekend don’t worry you can also do the art deco walking tour with “Bertie” showing you all the architecture. Soak in the beauty that rose from the ashes.
The national aquarium of New Zealand was redesigned in 2002. Have an underwater experience, stand on the travelator and look all around you and see the amazing fish, see underneath a stingray, see sharks swim over top of you, see lots of different species of fish. You also are able to see two of New Zealand’s very own kiwis.
The Gannet Colony at Cape Kidnappers is the most accessible mainland colony in the world. There are over 20,000 Gannets at the cape that are members of the Booby family. We know this because they have distinctive black eye markings and a pale gold crown. See the amazing 2 meter wing span of the stunning birds. See the mothers take care of their children from September – May. You get to the colony on a 4-wheel drive and get within meters of them without having to walk a step.
Go on one of our many wine tours and taste our award-winning wine, go to Jackson’s bakery in Havelock North and taste their gold medal mince and cheese pie.
Come to Hawke’s Bay and soak in the culture and soak in our culture, enjoy all we have to offer, meet our friendly community, enjoy our sunlight come and see us anytime!
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The Art Deco city
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Napier’s misfortune in 1931, when it was almost levelled by an earthquake, has led to the city’s world famous point of difference. Today Napier has one of the most outstanding collections of 1930s architecture in the world. Walking around the city, you’ll see wonderful examples of Art Deco, Spanish Mission and Stripped Classical design. Napier’s other special attractions include the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers and the many vineyards that make good use of the region’s alluvial soils. On Saturday morning, the Napier farmers’ market is a chance to shop for artisan foods and fresh produce.
Napier is a popular retirement town and tourist resort, and has one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, a statue on Marine Parade called Pania Of The Reef. Her statue is regarded in Napier in much the same way that the Little Mermaid statue is regarded in Copenhagen, and bears some similarities to its Scandinavian equivalent. In Maori mythology, Pania of the Reef was a beautiful maiden who lived in the sea on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. By daylight she swam about with creatures of her reef world but after sunset would go to a stream that ran into the bay where the city of Napier now exists. She would travel up the stream to an area where she could rest among the flax bushes.
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Visit the wonderful gannet colony
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Cape Kidnappers is an extraordinary sandstone headland to the east of Hastings in Hawke's Bay. It was named by Captain Cook after an attempt by local Mäori to abduct one of his crew.
The cape is home to the largest and most accessible gannet colony in the world. The 13 hectare reserve includes the Saddle and Black Reef gannet colonies. Both are closed to public access, however the Black Reef colony can be viewed from the beach. There are several ways to get to the gannet colony - on foot, sitting on a tractor trailer, in a 4WD vehicle or by kayak.
The Australasian Gannet is a member of the booby family, which includes shags, pelicans and frigate birds. Adult Australasian gannets have a wing span of up to two metres and an average weight of two kilograms. Although ungainly on land, gannets are exceptional flyers and conduct spectacular high dives into the sea to catch fish. They nest over summer; the first chicks hatch in early November and the last chicks depart the colony during May.
The other major attraction at Cape Kidnappers is the golf course. Designed by American Tom Doak, the course makes the most of the breathtaking natural landscape. The sixth hole is widely regarded to be one of the great golf holes of the world.
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Relish the local food and wine opportunities
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Fruit, wine and 1930s architecture give Hastings an appealing point of difference. The area was devastated by a huge earthquake in 1931 (as was Napier) then rebuilt using architectural styles of the times. A self-guided walk around the town centre reveals excellent commercial and residential examples of Art Deco and Spanish Mission design. Orchards and vineyards surround the urban area. Over summer you’ll find roadside stalls overflowing with pipfruit and fresh produce. At any time of the year, there are more than 40 wineries to visit. Every Sunday morning, the local farmer’s market turns on a great shopping experience.
Opposite the pier is the White Rock Theatre which mainly stages traditional seaside light entertainment shows. North of this and a little way inland are a 25m public swimming pool and leisure centre at Summerfields. This also has the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, law courts, police and fire stations nearby.
Near the castle ruins, on the West Hill, are "St Clement's Caves", partly natural, but mainly excavated by hand from the soft sandstone.
There is a miniature railway, fairground rides and amusement arcades catering for tourists near the Fishmarket. The fishmarket includes the striking net shops, Fisherman's museum and Hastings Sea Life Centre. Fishing boats are likely to be drawn up on the beach and there is a lifeboat station. Nearby is Hastings Old Town with a number of buildings dating from the earliest days of the town. There are two funicular railways, known locally as the West Hill and East Hill Lifts respectively. Slightly inland is the small Stables Theatre, which shows mainly local productions and acts as an arts exhibition centre.
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